A large gathering, including roshei yeshivos and talmidei
chachomim, participated in the levaya of Rebbetzin
Martha Lorincz, o"h, the wife of Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz,
ylct"a.
Born in 5682 (1922) in Cologne, Germany, she lost her father
and moved to Eretz Yisroel with her family in 5694 (1934),
joining the Eida Chareidis of Jerusalem community, which was
very rare in those days.
In 5708 (1948), while war raged in Eretz Hakodesh,
with the Chazon Ish's blessings, her husband traveled
abroad for an extended period to raise funds for chareidi
institutions in Eretz Yisroel. She found herself alone with
her children and when her state of health declined
dramatically she summoned inner strength to overcome her
difficulties in order to allow her husband to continue
engaging in zikui horabim.
During this period the chareidi sector in Eretz Hakodesh
had to confront severe problems such as autopsies,
military conscription for girls and difficulties in obtaining
exemptions for yeshiva students. The Lorinczes were widely
known for extending help to people in these situations.
Because handling the dead was such a delicate matter that
could not be delayed for even a few hours, they were
constantly woken up in the middle of the night, but were glad
to offer assistance.
When the authorities started jailing girls for refusing to be
inducted, Rebbetzin Lorincz went with her husband to the jail
to make their release more pleasant and to spare them from
having to negotiate themselves.
A dedicated mother, Rebbetzin Lorincz would always say, "A
Jewish woman does not seek gratification outside [the home]--
real gratification comes from taking care of the children's
upbringing and education."
When the Iron Curtain fell and thousands of Jews began to
arrive in Eretz Yisroel, she set up an assistance program for
new Russian immigrants, matching each family with an adoptive
family to provide material and spiritual help.
More than three years ago she became very ill and had to
undergo a complicated operation shortly before Pesach. Lying
on the operating table she told her family members, "Just
because I'm sick right before the chag does not mean
people in need have to suffer," and proceeded to sign
Kimcha dePischa checks for Russian immigrants.
On Tzom Gedaliah she returned her soul to her Maker. After
the levaya set out from her home in the Mattersdorf
neighborhood of Jerusalem, a hesped was delivered by
her husband, who thanked Hashem Yisborach for the
opportunity to spend sixty years with such a great woman.
While visiting HaRav Shach in his home, HaRav Lorincz
recounted, he took the trouble of serving them himself and
said, "For Rebbetzin Lorincz I ought to bring the chair
myself."
Rebbetzin Martha Lorincz o"h is survived by her
husband; her sons-in-law HaRav Chaim Ozer Gurewicz, one of
the roshei yeshivos at Gateshead, HaRav Elozor Halevi
Shulsinger, HaRav Yehuda Aryeh Schwartz, the rov of the
Nachalat Siroka neighborhood in Bnei Brak, HaRav Meshulom
Zushia Zahn, a ram at Yeshivas Nachalas Moshe in
Jerusalem; her sons, HaRav Yosef Aryeh, rosh kollel
Divrei Shir in Bnei Brak, HaRav Moshe, a ram at
Yeshivas Kehillos Yaakov Chazon Yechezkel, HaRav Yitzchok, a
ram at Yeshivas Kol Torah, HaRav Avrohom Yeshayohu, a
ram at Yeshivas Or Yisroel; and grandchildren and
great- grandchildren following the path of Torah and
yir'oh.
